Rotary engine



Aug. 18, 1931. c. w. CARLTON ROTARY ENGINE Filed June 1, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet, l

Aug. 18, 1931. I 1 w. CARLTON I ROTARY ENGINE Filed June 1, 1927 5 Sheeis-Sheet 5 Charles Ml Patented Aug. 18, 1931 U NITEID STATES PATENT or-FtcE CHARLES W. CARLTON, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK ROTARY- ENGINE Application filed June 1, 1927; Serial No. 19 ;830.

: tive fluids may most efficiently operate against the pistons of the rotor with butlittle frictional resistance.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved rotary engine construction embodying slidable pistons carried by the rotor, with structural features thereof enabling the motive power to assist in moving the piston to a working position.

A further object of this invention is'the provision of an improved rotary engine construction embodying-a stator having a chamber therein so designed that the rotor-pistons will have reached their fullest extended positions prior to the full application of the power stroke.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved rotary engine construction embodying a stator with detachable features which will permit facile assemblage or disassemblage of internal parts.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved packing construction between rotor and stator partsof a rotary engine, which will lessen friction and insure a sealed connection between the rotor and stator parts.

A further object of this invention is the provision of improved means for mounting and operating reciprocatory pistons of the rotors of rotary engines or the like.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description.

.5 In the accompanying drawings, forming a v part of this specification, and wherein similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View taken through the improved rotary engine trans- BIB-7.

verselythru the axis of rotation of the rotor thereof.

Figure 2 1s .a' transverse sectlonal view taken through the engine substantially on -the line22 of'Figure 1.

Flgure 31s .a fragmentary plan View of detailsof the improved engine.

- =F1gure 4 1s a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig-- ure 8, this view Figure 4 being on a reduced :scale with re ect to Figure 3.

, .Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing more particularly certain operating details of the rotor and stator, and more particularly showing packingfeatures and the :sliding pistons of the rotor. V

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional View taken through one of the pistons of the rotor, showing the. relation in which the motive fluid operates on the construction thereof to facilitate the extension of the piston to an operating position.

Figure? is a fragmentary plariview showing an end connection of a sliding piston in its rotor and the adjacent packing features '75 thereof.

Figure Sis a sectional view taken substantiallyon the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

details of the stator and-rotor walls with certain parts uofthe .p ackingremoved.

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing themeans of relatively connecting the pistons on oval shaped:mountlng'rings.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on'the line 14-14 of Fig- Figure is an end view of a piston, showing its packing therefor at the base of the same as carried by the rotor parts.

Figure 16 is adiagrammatic representation of different relative positions of a pair of pistons with respect to the rotor casing in the stator chamber.

In thedrawings, whereinfor the purpose of illustration is shown but a preferred embodiment of this invention, the letter A may generally designate the improved rotary engine, which may comprise a stator B; rotor C mounted on a shaft D; the rotor C pref-erably comprising a rotor casing construction E within which pistons F slidably reciprocate in a cooperative relation with the rotor'an'd stator.

I Referring to the construction of the stator B, the same preferably comprises a base 20, having walls 21 and 22 arcuating upwardly therefrom, and having a complementary arcua-ted top wall or cover 23 associated therewith. Side stator walls 24 and 25 are provided, and it is to be noted that the arcuated walls 21 and 22 of the base portion ers pro vided with flanges at the margins thereof, against which the side plates 24 and abut; being secured thereto by transverse bolts 26 extending thru said flanges and preferably at the exterior surface of the walls 21 and 22.

At the upper ends the stator walls 21 and 22 are provided with upwardly extending flanges 30, arranged diagonally or in acute an led relation with respect to the parallel planes of the stator walls 24 and 25. The top wall or cover 23 at the ends thereof is provided with outwardly extending diagonally sloping walls 32, and it is provided with side outwardly extending flanges 34 for abutment against the inner surfacesof the stator side walls 24 and 25, as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings. The walls 30 and 32 are adapted to receive transverse bolts 36 therethrough for detachably securing the cover wall 23 in place, and similarly the flanges 34 are secured to the side walls 24 and 25 by transverse bolts 36.

lVhen the stator is assembled as above de scribed, it provides a rotor compartment 38 therein, between the base 20, its side walls 21 and 22, and the top wall 23. This compartment 38 is of unusual formation. A shaft D is rotatably supported in suitable bearings 39 provided centrally on the stator walls 24. and 25. which shaft D intersects the compartment 38 in a definite relation.- The inner surface 40 of the wall or cover 23 is concentrically arranged with the shaft D, between the points 41 and 42, at which the top pistons F rest, as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. The lower surface of the stator compartment 38, from the point 43 to the point 44, is also concentric with the center of the shaft D, on a radius, which is less than the radius from which the surface 40 is struck. The arcuated surfaces 47 and 48 completing the periphery of the compartment 38 are eccentric with respect to the axis of the shaft D; the surface 47 concavely sloping from the location 43 to the location 41; and the concaved surface 48 sloping from the location 44 upwardly to the location 42.

An intake port or passageway 50 is arranged through the base 20, extending from the bottom thereof upwardly and opening in the compartment 38 on the surface just below the location 43; the said port extending through the base'20 entirely along the peripheral portion 4'7 of the compartment be subsequently mentioned. An exhaust port 51 is similarly provided in the base 20 at the opposite side of the compartment 38, ex-.

tending through the base and having an opening on the surface 45 below the point 44; the exhaust port or passageway 51 opening in the compartment 38 entirely along the peripheral portion '48 up to the point 42 above described,- so that the exhaust commences to take place immediately when the piston F starts its retraction along the surface 48. as will besubsequently mentioned.

The casing E of the rotor C preferably. comprises side walls 55 and 56, keyed as at 57 on the shaft D, and respectively in sliding relation at the inner sides of the walls 24 and 25 of the stator B. These walls 55 and 56. at their outer marginal portions are received within guide grooves 58 and 59 formed in the concave peripheral surfaces of the walls of I the stator about the compartment 38 at each substantially slidingengagement with the surface portion 45 of the stator compartment 38, during the rotation of the rotor .(l as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. When the segments 60 to 63 are thus bolted 'to the rotor side walls, a substantially crescent-shaped portion of the compartment '38 is open above the rotor segments between the intake andexhaust ports 50 and 51, as illustrated in Figure 1, and it is in this crescent-shaped portion of the compartment 38 therebetween, in a relation to be more fully described hereinafter. It is to be noted that the segments of the casing E have such a tight connection with the side walls of the rotor so as to prevent any leak of motive fluid past such'connection, and if desirable packingszmay be provided to insure against such leakage.

Referring to the pistons F, each of the same comprises a flatbody 70, slidable in the space between the ends of adjacent segments ofthe rotor casing E. These pistonsare radially reciprocable with respectto the shaft Dinthe spaces between the segments 60 to .63 inclusive, and at the opposite sides thereof, at the outer end, the body 7 0 is enlarged at 71; the segments being recessed at 72 to slidably receive the portions 71 of each piston, in a'sliding relation, as illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings. The walls and 56 of the rotor are grooved at 7 for each of the pistons F, to slidably receive the side portions 75 of the body 70 of the respective piston therein, as illustrated in the various figures of the drawings.

Each of thepistons F along the outer edge thereofis grooved, and has a packing strip 80 therein, of suitable material, extending entirely along the body 70, and at its ends extending along the top of the side portions 75 of the body. In cross section this packing strip 80 is half circular and extends upwardlyabove the top edges of the portions 71 of the piston.

As a means of retaining the piston body .70 in a fluid tight engagement between the segments between which it slides and also with respect to theside walls 55 and 56 of the rotor, it is preferred to provideparallel grooves 82 at each of the ends of each segment 60 to 63 inclusive; these grooves 82 being parallel and extending entirely across the segments parallel with the shaft D, and the grooves 82 being in facing relation with the similar grooves of an adjacent spaced segment, at a location below the recesses 72 above described. In these grooves 82'packing strips 86 are adapted to be received, urged against the opposite sides at the baseof the piston body 7 O by means of resilient substantially s-shaped springs 87 which extend the length of the strips 86 and along the bottoms of the grooves 82, as Well illustrated in Figure '15 of the drawings. These strips 86 and their springs extend beyond the opposite sides of the segments on which disposed, and into the sidewalls 55 and 56 in facing relation with the grooves 74. These packing strips 86,11owever, terminate short of the I opposite end edges of the body of the piston F. In the grooves 74E of the side walls posed radial packingstrips or :lengths 88,

in elongated grooves '89 disposed in the said side walls of the rotor facing the grooves 7a.;substantiallyS-shaped springs 90 'being provided in said grooves 89 at the bottoms ment at opposite sides of each end of each piston body 70, to providea leak proof passage connection-forthe sliding of:the ends .7l5iof the piston body in thegrooves 74: of. the side walls 55 and 56 0f the rotor. These packing strips 88 and their springs'90 are of the rotor walls 55 and 56, above each of the end portions 7 5 of the piston body, as shown in Figure 8. Each spring member 90 preferably'comprises a polygonal shaped body 91, provided with an L-shaped groove .92

therein along the top and inner surfaces, as

shown in Figure 9. The body 91 at opposite sides has spring arms which rest on the stator at their free, ends, at 97, in flexed condition to urge the body 91 toward the seat 58 or 59 of the stator walls. In the L-shaped groove 92 is adapted to be received an L-shaped packing piece 97 of-approval mate- 'rial, as shown in FigurelO, which includes an upper leg 98 seating in the top groove portionand urged by the resiliency of the member 90 into seating engagement with the annular seat 58 or 59, along which the outer peripheries of the rotor walls 55 and 56 slide. The L-shaped member 97 furthermore includes an inner leg 100 which is adapted to seat against a side wall .101 on the stator, forming a side wall of the groove 58 or 59; this leg 100 being urged by means of a compressed spiral spring 102, into engagement with the surface 101; the body 91 being provided with a special socket 105 for receiving the spring 102, in the relation illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings.

The outer peripheries of the rotor walls 55 and 56 are peripherally grooved at 110, outwardly of the socket 95 above described, for receiving therein packing rings 111 and 112, each of which are divided into four sections, as illustrated in'Figure 4 of the drawings; a split expansion ring 118 rest- .55 and 56, at each side ofthe groove are dis- 112 into a sealing engagement against the tracks 58 and 59 of thestator walls.

The pistons F are aided by the operating fluid to seat against the inner peripheries of the rotor walls comprising the compartment 38. As to this feature, referring to Figures 5 and 6, it is to be noted that a port 115 is provided at the fluid pressure side of each piston F, in an end of each rotor segment. This port permits the operating fluid to enter the same and enter the recess 72 beneath the shoulder 117 of the enlarged portion 71 of the piston body; the fiuid pressing against the shoulder 117 and forcing the pistonF radially outward with its packing 80 against the inner peripheral surface of the stator housing, as illustrated in Figure 6. However, this tendency of the-motor fluid to urge the pistons radially outwardly is counteracted, to some extent by an application of the motive fluid on the upper shoulder 118 of the piston body, laterally of the packing 80, as illustrated in Figure 6; but asthis shoulder 118 is less in area than the shoulder 117, the net result of operation of the motive fluid at the pressure side of the piston is to'urge the piston F radially outward. Of course the motive fluid acts on the packing 80 in the relation illustrated in Figure 6 to more firm- 1y seat the same against the inner periphery of the stator compartment in which the rotor operates.

, *The engine is preferablyof the reversible type, and therefore ports 115 are provided 1n the segments to 63 inclusive, at the opposide sides of the piston F from the ports 115, v

which enables the motive fluid to reach the shoulders 117 when the fluid uses port 51 as an intake; it being understood that motive fluid when the motor is thus reversed also acts on the shoulders 118 and that the resultant of the pressure during the power stroke when reversing will be to force the pistons at the outer packing ends 80 into engagement with the walls of the expansion chamber.

7 Referring now to the connection of the pistons F, it is observed that the pistons F are connected in pairs, thatis, diametrically opposed pistons are connected together, and

is preferred that two pair of pistons be provided, in a right angled relation with respect'to each other. The means ofconnecting the pistons together is'novel, as 1llustrated in Figures 1 and 5 of the drawings. A pair of the pistons F are connected together by means of a resilient oval-shaped spring ring 120, eccentrically arrangedsurrounding the shaft D. This spring ring 120 is located centrally between the side walls 55 and 56 of the rotor, and at each side of this spring are provided other spring rings 121, also resilient and oval-shaped in formation, of the same peripheral dimensions as the spring 120, but less in width thanthe same, both of the rings 121 being intended to connect merely one pair of the pistons F together.

Each of the pistons F at the inner end of the body is provided with a transversely apertured barrel or bearing portion 125, adapted to receive a pivot pin 126 therethrough. Adjustable bearing straps 127 are provided on the rings 120 and 121, for each bearing pin of the iston; detachably connected by means of bolts 128 to any of a plurality of openings 129 in the oval shaped spring rings 120 and 121. As is illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawingsthe particular piston F of that view is shown as connected to the outer spring rings 121, as is also the diametrically opposed piston. The other pistons as is well shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, are pivotally connected to the central ring 120. It is readily apparent that in view of the oval shape of the rings 120 and 121, the

opposing pistons may be connected with a yariable spring action, urging them against the inner periphery of the stator walls of the chamber 38. This spring action that'the springs have'in forcing their respectively connected pistons against the inner periphery of the chamber 38 is very slight.

From the foregoing description of the structure of the improved rotary engine, it is believed the operation will be apparent. The rotor moves in the directionindicated by arrow in Figure 1 of the drawings, and it is to be noted that the motive fluid actuates on the top of the piston until the piston has passed the point 11, thus tending to lessen friction. As soon as it passes the point 41, however, the motive fluid acts with full force on the power sides of the piston F, and the resultant of the motive fluid action on the packing 80 and shoulders 118 and 117 is to radially force the piston into a sealing engagement with the inner periphery 4.0. The motivefluid thus has a practically perfect seal insofar as the pistonF is concerned, for imparting the full force of the expansion of the motive fluid to the rotation of the rotor. The

motive fluid acts from the point 41 to the point 412, thru an arc of about 90, which is the main part of the power stroke, and immeditely thereafter the motivefluid is released thru the port 51'; it being understood that the pistons at their outer peripheries ride along the surfaces 15, 47 and 48 during the intake and exhaust.

An additional feature of the packing construction is the provision of cap strips 130, detachably held by screws 181 in the sockets 95 provided therefor in thetop of the periphery of the rotor walls; the ends of these caps 130, as shown in Figure 1 1 of the drawings, covering the piston sealing packing 88.

it is to be noted that in the packing strips 88, at the upper ends thereof, small recesses 88 are formed so as to extend in facing relation with the groove for the sides of the pistons, and which recesses 88 are for the purpose of inserting suitable tools for removal of the packing strips.

ing rings 112 are preferably made sectional,

as illustrated in Figure 4, to permit their ready attachment or detachment with respect to the stator thru the opening when the cover 23 is removed, and it is readily apparent that the pistons'may be easily removed or adjusted. The diagonal joints between the ends of the cover 23 and the other side walls of the stator are for the purpose of enabling the ends of the pistons, to move easily across these joints.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the same or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a rotary engine a stator having a compartment therein with motive fluid inlet and outlet ports, a rotor in the stator compartment comprising a casing, pistons radially slidable in said casing, and said flexible spring rings pivotally connecting said pistons in pairs, said rings being oval shaped and having means thereon for adjustably receiving the pistons at various'locations thereabout.

2. In a rotary engine the combination of a rotor comprising a shaft, side walls keyed on the shaft in spaced relation, segments con nected to said side walls with the ends spaced, pistons slidable in said spaces between the ends of said segments, said segments in the ends thereof facing said spaces having packing strips urged into sliding abutment against said pistons in said spaces, said side walls of the rotor being grooved to receive the sides of said pistons, said grooves having packing rings urged into'sealing abutment I with the pistons slidable therein.

3. In a rotary engine the combination of a stator providing side walls and an annular wall with a compartment therein, a rotor in said compartment including a shaft, an annular casing on the shaft, and pistons transversely slidable thru said annular casing, said rotor having side walls immediately facing the inner surfaces of the side walls of the stator grooved to receive the ends of said pistons, packing means carried by the rotor casing and side walls for each of said pistons, means to urge the pistons at their outer ends into abutment with the annular walls of the stator, peripheral packing rings on the side walls of the rotor having springs urging them into sealing abutment with the annular wall of the stator, and spring urged packing means on the peripheral margins of said annular walls at opposite outer corners of said pistons, in sealing abutment with the inner side of the annular wall of said stator.

CHARLES W. CARLTON. 

